Africa

South America

Iao Valley State Park

Covered in green foliage, the iconic ‘Īao Needle is a natural basalt pinnacle that looms over the ‘Īao stream and is surrounded by the walls of the Pu‘u Kukui, the crater of a dormant volcano in the West Maui Mountains. The Needle rises out of a dramatic tableau of streams and sharp cliffs in thick vegetation, often shrouded in mist. ‘Īao Stream (fed by up to 400 inches of rain per year) cuts through the valley, and there are excellent hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty, from leisure to challenging. It is said that the bones of many chieftains are buried in the vicinity of the needle. Olopio, a cave containing the remains of royal elders, is rumored to be hidden somewhere in the valley. The 6.2-acre state park is located just west of Wailuku. The end of ‘Īao Valley Rd. (Hwy. 32)